The Messolonghi Lagoons complex, classified as a national park, is not only one the most important wetlands in the Mediterranean, protected by the Ramsar Convention and included in the Natura 2000 network, but also one of the richest natural fish production centers of the country which is formed between the deltas of the Acheloos and Evinos rivers. The site is important for breeding, staging and wintering waterbirds and exhibits a considerable degree of endemism in plant and fish species. Wintering birds include the globally threatened Pelecanus crispus. Messolonghi Lagoon is a favourite birding destination all year round.
Messolonghi is a beautiful and serene town located on the western side of Greece. Stretching around an impressive sea lake dotted with tiny fishermen houses, Messolonghi has charm in abundance!
Although it is surrounded by beautiful beaches and breathtaking natural landscapes, Messolonghi is still untouched by mass tourism, so it is perfect for relaxing holidays! Messolonghi is a popular destination for families with kids and couples.
According to predominant historical opinion, its name came from the combination of two Italian words, mezzo and laghi which means "in the middle of lakes" or messo and laghi (Messolaghi) which means "a place surrounded by lakes". Its inhabitants, mostly fishermen, lived in cabins which were made of a kind of waterproof straw and reed and stood on stilts above sea water. These cabins or stilt-houses have always been called "pelades".
North-west of Messolonghi are the remains of Pleuron (Plevrona), a town mentioned in Homer's works. It participated in the Trojan expedition and was destroyed in 234 BC. The new town, which was built on the remains of old Pleuron, was one of the most important towns in the area. Its monumental fortification comprised thirty towers and seven gates. The remains of the theater and an enormous water tank with four compartments still exist.
The Missolonghi-Aitoliko lagoons complex is located in the north part of the Gulf of Patras in the central west coast of Greece. It is one of the most important Mediterranean lagoons. It is a shallow area of 150 km2, extended between the Acheloos and Evinos rivers. It is protected by the Ramsar Convention and it is also included in the Natura 2000 network.
Messolonghi is perfect for birdwatching: lots of summer visitors along with very interesting resident birds can be easily seen in the lagoons but also in the surrounding area.
The lagoons are home to, among others, the endangered Dalmatian Pelican, the elegant Avocet, the elusive Stone Curlew and the buyoant Collared Pratincole. There are also very interesting birds of prey in the surroundings; the gorge of Kleisoura, north of the lagoons, provides shelter to the Griffon Vulture.
The National Park of Messolonghi-Etoliko Lagoons is an extensive complex of brackish coastal lagoons, mudflats, saltmarsh, freshwater marsh, reedbeds, dune systems and patches of riparian forest formed within the double delta of two rivers.
The lagoons keep a wide biodiversity. Birds find shelter, and incubate in it, thanks to the safe shallow waters of the lagoon, they find ample food from the fish that live and reproduce in it, while in it’s ecosystem reptiles and mammals are found.
During the Orlov Revolt in 1770 the fleet of Messolonghi was defeated and the town passed to the Ottomans. Messolonghi revolted on 20 May 1821 and was a major stronghold of the Greek rebels in the Greek War of Independence, being the seat of the Senate of Western Continental Greece. Its inhabitants successfully resisted a siege by Ottoman forces in 1822. The second siege started on 15 April 1825 by Reşid Mehmed Pasha whose army numbered 30,000 men and was later reinforced by another 10,000 men led by Ibrahim Pasha, son of Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt. After a year of relentless enemy attacks and facing starvation, the people of Messolonghi decided to leave the beleaguered city in the "Exodus of its Guards" (The Sortie) on the night of 10 April 1826. At the time, there were 10,500 people in Messolonghi, 3,500 of whom were armed. Very few people survived the Ottoman pincer movement after the betrayal of their plan.
Due to the heroic stance of the population and the subsequent massacre of its inhabitants by the Turkish-Egyptian forces, the town of Messolonghi received the honorary title of Hiera Polis (the Sacred City), unique among other Greek cities.
The famous British poet Lord Byron, who supported the Greek struggle for independence, died in Messolonghi in 1824. Lord Byron is commemorated by a cenotaph, containing his heart, and a statue located in the town.
How to visit Mesolongi (Messolonghi)
We at Monterrasol Travel welcome you to see Mesolongi (Messolonghi) during multiday private car tour. Contact us if you would like to customize your tour to Mesolongi (Messolonghi).
We have developed several tours that visiting this beautiful place. But, if you have a special conditions or any from these tours fit you, please do not hesitate to contact us, we can organize a tour exactly as you would like. And remember, we have no problems to take you from almost any place where you stay, hotel or private accommodation.
Discover Greece from Igoumenitsa: round trip via Parga, Delphi, Meteora. Ancient towns, beaches, castles and monasteries. See Parga castle and enjoy Parga beach, walk in Arta fortress, refresh in Mesolongi beach, take image of Antirrio bridge, climb on walls of Nafpaktos fortress and swim down on the beach, rest in Galaxidi, visit UNESCO Delphi and Hosios Loukas monastery, take evening in medieval old town Livadeia, say hello to Leonidas in Thermopylae, wonder on Meteora monasteries and return back via Ioannina with large castle.
Greece discovery round trip via ancient towns, beaches, castles and monasteries from Igoumenitsa via Parga, Patras, Corinth, Delphi, Meteora. Visit Parga castle and enjoy Parga beach, walk in Arta castle, see Mesolongi sea lake and ancient Makinia, climb on Nafpaktos castle and touch statue of Cervantes, take an images of Antirrio fortress and longest bridge of the fully suspended type, walk in Patras fortress and pray in St Andrew cathedral, wonder on Corinth canal and old Acrocorinth fortress, walk the passages of medieval town Livadeia and next day morning visit in mountains old Hosios Loukas UNESCO monastery, ask Delphi oracle and see the place of the feat of Leonidas, and next day visit unique UNESCO complex of monasteries in Meteora.
This 14 days tour will allow you to meet amazing south Balkans countries: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and of course beautiful Greece. The route will pass through Trebinje, Podgorica, Durres, Ioannina, Nafpaktos, Olympia, Sparta, Nafplio and other towns. We will see old castles, monasteries, archaeological sites, and amazing coastal line. At summer time we will stop on beaches to take a rest, refresh and enjoy the crystal clear water.
This off-season tour is for people who would like to get to know deeply the history of Greece and walk that ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization. Around the world such places are on the list of UNESCO. And many other places now expecting to be on UNESCO list; such places are prepared, available for public for fraction of cost, and are on so called UNESCO tentative list.
During this tour we going to visit main UNESCO places and UNESCO tentative list places, located in Greece mainland. Greece is so rich with history that visit all UNESCO places in one tour will take very long time. Because of that we, Monterrasol Travel, created this tour to be able to visit the main UNESCO places in one tour.
In this tour we will travel 15 days by Adriatic coast of Montenegro and Albania, and discover Greece mainland and Peloponnese. Meet during the tour ancient monasteries and castles, enjoy amazing beaches, touch stones of old places in 3 countries.
Discover Greece in big 15 days tour. During this all seasons Greece tour from Igoumenitsa, we will visit most of main attractions of Greece mainland and Peloponnese peninsula. Prepare yourself for beautiful beaches, old castles and monasteries, , and ancient archaeological places. Visit Delphi oracle, say hello to Sparta and king Leonidas.
Balkan route from Dubrovnik to Athens in 16 days. Visit Bosnia, Montenegro, pass hills of Albania, and discover fortresses and ancient towns of Greece. Bosnian old towns and monasteries, Montenegro oldest monastery, hills of Albania, and discover greek fortresses, beaches, monasteries and archaeological sites.
This off-season tour is focused on people who would like to get to know deeply the history of Greece and walk that ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization. Around the world such places are on the list of UNESCO. And many other places now expecting to be on UNESCO list; such places are prepared, available for public for fraction of cost, and are on so called UNESCO tentative list.
During this tour we going to visit most of UNESCO places and UNESCO tentative list places, located in Greece mainland. Greece is so rich with history that visit all UNESCO places in one tour will take very long time. Because of that we, Monterrasol Travel, created this tour to be able to visit the most of UNESCO places in one tour.
From 1 Feb 2019 we load on our site the description of new place: Monemvasia, Greece. We have visited this beautiful place few times and we definitely like to be there, and we are welcome you to have a trip there with us!
Monemvasia is a town and a municipality in Laconia, Greece. The town is located on a small island off the east coast of the Peloponnese. The island is linked to the mainland by a short causeway 200m in length. Its area consists mostly of a large plateau some 100 meters above sea level, up to 300 m wide and 1 km long, the site of a powerful medieval fortress. The town walls and many Byzantine churches remain from the medieval period.
